EnergySolutions

This article is part of the Center for Media & Democracy's focus on the fallout of nuclear "spin."

EnergySolutions describes itself as "an international nuclear services company with operations throughout the United States and around the world." Its services include "decommissioning and remediation of nuclear sites and facilities, management of spent nuclear fuel, the transportation of nuclear material and the environmental cleanup of nuclear legacy sites such as the uranium mill tailings site in Moab, Utah." The company operates "a metal melt facility in Tennessee and a low-level waste disposal facility in Utah." [1]

ALEC is a corporate bill mill. It is not just a lobby or a front group; it is much more powerful than that. Through ALEC, corporations hand state legislators their wishlists to benefit their bottom line. Corporations fund almost all of ALEC's operations. They pay for a seat on ALEC task forces where corporate lobbyists and special interest reps vote with elected officials to approve “model” bills. Learn more at the Center for Media and Democracy's ALECexposed.org, and check out breaking news on our PRWatch.org site.

Storing nuclear waste in Utah

EnergySolutions dropped plans to expand its low-level radioactive waste disposal site in Tooele County, Utah, in March 2007. "With waste literally backed up at the disposal site's gates, EnergySolutions began asking state regulators in 2005 to expand," reported the Salt Lake Tribune. However, Utah Governor Jon Huntsman Jr. opposed the expansion of the waste site, and the environmental group Healthy Environment Alliance of Utah (HEAL Utah) filed a lawsuit, seeking to stop the expansion. When EnergySolutions "asked state regulators to scrap its boundary expansion plans," HEAL Utah agreed to drop the lawsuit. [4]

In the summer of 2009, EnergySolutions will become "the sole commercial option for waste generated in 36 states -- and, if allowed, foreign countries -- under the national system for managing low-level radioactive waste." The company raised concerns again in Utah when it applied "for a license to import 20,000 tons of low-level radioactive waste from Italy." The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has said it will consider state concerns and rules when deciding whether or not to allow the importation of foreign-generated nuclear waste. Utah governor Huntsman said "he would not object to material from any source -- domestic or foreign -- as long as it falls within the state's hazard standard and fits in the currently licensed site," according to a December 2007 Salt Lake Tribune article. [5]

In February 2009, the Salt Lake Tribune reported that EnergySolutions had been working "quietly with state lawmakers on a proposal to have the state split EnergySolutions' profits from the disposal of foreign waste," with Utah's share being an estimated "$100 million or more a year." Like many states, Utah is expecting a severe budget shortfall. "We think there's an opportunity for the governor, the Legislature and EnergySolutions to come together and find a solution to this issue and also to provide a benefit and assistance to the people, the citizens of the state of Utah," said company spokesperson Jill Sigal. However, a spokesperson for Utah Governor Huntsman said he "is against having the Italian waste come here, or the foreign waste in general." The Tribune noted that EnergySolutions' 2007 filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said that "disposing of foreign waste was crucial to its [financial] future." [6]

In March 2009, the NRC "voted to regulate depleted uranium as Class A low-level waste." The move "opens the door to 1.4 million tons [of depleted uranium] coming to Utah," for storage at the EnergySolutions site. [7]

Operating nuclear plants

In June 2007, EnergySolutions bought control from BNFL of Britain's "Reactor Sites Management Limited (RSMC) which -- through its subsidiary Magnox Electric -- holds the contracts and licences to operate and decommission 10 nuclear sites and 22 reactors with a value of about £350m." Since "two of the facilities, Oldbury and Wylfa, are still producing electricity," the deal resulted in EnergySolution's first "sole responsibility for sites that generate atomic energy." [8]

Lobbying and political donations

EnergySolutions "has made $538,580 in political contributions to candidates and political parties" in Utah since 2006, reported the Salt Lake Tribune in February 2009. "The Utah Republican Party is the leading recipient, receiving $154,520 from the company, followed by the Utah Democratic Party, which has received $44,900." Overall, the company has contributed "to more than 80 percent of sitting lawmakers." [9]